1890s Gatcomb Model 20 Openback 5-String Banjo

This is owned by a customer who wanted me to do the absolute minimum to get this going. I translate that to, "don't fix real problems." That also usually translates to me doing extra work for free because I can't handle not making things at least decent. Oh, world!

I've bought and sold a variety of Gatcomb (Boston-made) banjos over the years and all have been 1880s/1890s instruments. This one is relatively plain in design but does have some nice inlay in the fretboard, a very long scale (~27" or so), and a good-feeling neck cut. These should be strung with nylon, gut, or Nylgut (which would give this a clean, snappy sound), but the owner wanted very light steel (which, in the case of this banjo, sounds a little swampy). Oh, world!

Still, after just a little leveling of the frets, a bunch of repair to a cracked-up fretboard/neck near where it meets the rim, a reglue of the dowel, a compensated bridge, new strings, and a few other joyful repairs, it now plays decently. It really could've used Nylgut strings and a good level/dress of the frets to be rid of some errant warp, but, c'est la vie.